My Friend Stan

"My Friend Stan" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1973 as the first single from the band's fourth studio album Old New Borrowed and Blue.[2] It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 2 in the UK, spending eight weeks on the chart.[3] The single was certified UK Silver by BPI in October 1973.[4]

"My Friend Stan"
German/European cover of "My Friend Stan".
Single by Slade
from the album Old New Borrowed and Blue
B-side"My Town"
Released28 September 1973[1]
GenreGlam rock
Length2:38
LabelPolydor Records
Songwriter(s)Noddy Holder, Jim Lea
Producer(s)Chas Chandler
Slade singles chronology
"Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me"
(1973)		 "My Friend Stan"
(1973)		 "Merry Xmas Everybody"
(1973)

Background

"My Friend Stan", alongside the compilation Sladest, was Slade's first release following drummer Don Powell's near fatal car crash in July 1973. The accident threw the band's future into doubt, however Powell survived and was soon able to join the band in recording material for their new album Old New Borrowed and Blue. One of the earliest songs to be recorded, "My Friend Stan" saw Powell still walking with the aid of a stick. He had to be lifted onto his drum stool during recording.[5]

"My Friend Stan" was released in September 1973 and reached No. 2 in the UK. Prior to its release, Polydor had to import 100,000 copies of the single into the UK due to the high pre-order demand.[6][7] After Lea had come up with the song's melody, the band's manager Chas Chandler persuaded him to complete it after he had heard Lea playing the melody on his home piano.[8]

Release

"My Friend Stan" was released on 7" vinyl by Polydor Records in the UK, Ireland, across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan.[9][10] The B-side, "My Town", would later appear as an album track on Old New Borrowed and Blue.[11]

Promotion

A music video was filmed to promote the single, which was recorded at the Olympic Studios in Barnes. The video portrays the band recording the song, and features guitarist Dave Hill using his trademark Superyob guitar.[12][13] In the UK, the band performed the song on the music show Top of the Pops. In France, they performed it on the TV show Dimanche Salvador. In America, the band performed the song on the TV show Midnight Special in 1974.[14]

Critical reception

Upon release, Record Mirror said the song was a "much slower Slade offering" and "really rather subdued". They concluded that the song was an "obvious number one" and "in some ways more memorable than some of the earlier rampagers".[15]

Track listing
7" Single
  1. "My Friend Stan" - 2:38
  2. "My Town" - 3:02

Personnel
Slade
Additional personnel

Charts
Chart (1973) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[16] 44
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[18] 8
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[19] 10
Ireland (IRMA)[20] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 13
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 10
Norway (VG-lista)[23] 5
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 6
UK Singles (OCC)[25] 2
West Germany (Official German Charts)[26] 5

References
  1. "Slade - My Friend Stan".
  2. "Slade - Old New Borrowed And Blue at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1974. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  3. "SLADE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  4. "Home". BPI. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  5. Old New Borrowed and Blue - 2006 Salvo remaster booklet liner notes
  6. "1973 - Slade Fan Club www.sladefanclub.com". Sladefanclub.com. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  7. Slade Fan Club Newsletter December 1973
  8. "CD Album - Slade - Greatest Hits - Feel The Noize - Polydor - UK". 45worlds.com. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  9. "ALL Discography @ www.collectadisc.co.uk". Collectadisc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  10. "Slade - My Friend Stan at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1973. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  11. "Slade - Old New Borrowed And Blue at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1974. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  12. "1986 - Slade Fan Club www.sladefanclub.com". Sladefanclub.com. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  13. Slade International Fan Club newsletter June - July - August 1986
  14. "SLADE @ www.slayed.co.uk". Crazeeworld.plus.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  15. "1973 Press Cuttings". Slade Scrapbook. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  16. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 277. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  17. "Slade – My Friend Stan" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  18. "Slade – My Friend Stan" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  19. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Slade". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021. Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 237. ISBN 978-952-7460-01-6.
  20. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – My Friend Stan". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  21. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Slade" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  22. "Slade – My Friend Stan" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  23. "Slade – My Friend Stan". VG-lista. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  24. "Slade – My Friend Stan". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  25. "Slade: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  26. "Offiziellecharts.de – Slade – My Friend Stan" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
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